Did Chad feel that same void when he ran off to New York? I might never know.
My breath catches in my throat when I look up and see him—Chad, strolling toward the tennis court, and Lakelyn right beside him. Their hands are linked, and there’s a shy, almost secretive smile playing on Lakelyn’s lips.
Mine.
Fuck. They’re both mine.
And I want them—both of them—right now. Now that I know what this feeling is, the constant thrumming beneath my skin, I want to grab onto them, keep them close, lock them up until they realize they belong with me. That’s some primal shit talking, but I can’t shake it. I straighten up, trying to push back the alpha instincts surging to the surface, and watch them approach, heart pounding, my control hanging by a thread.
Fuck even my teeth ache.
Chad’s grin is the first thing I notice—sharp, knowing, and just a little too confident. He’s up to something, and I can feel it before he even opens his mouth. His dark eyes flash with mischief, his whole posture screaming that he’s here to mess with me, to push me right up to the edge.
I steel myself, gripping the tennis ball launcher a little tighter than necessary. The crowd around the country club is thinning, but there are still enough eyes on the court. If I lose control now, it’ll be the talk of the place.
“Ready for your lesson, Coach?” Chad’s voice drips with amusement as he steps onto the court, Lakelyn following close behind. Her hand still rests in his, but there’s no mistaking the way she’s looking at me—like she knows something I don’t.
I try to focus, but it’s impossible when they’re both standing there, in front of me, together.
It shouldn’t make me want to tear something apart, but it does. My gaze flickers between them, and every instinct I have is telling me to claim them, to remind them who the alpha is here. But instead, I force myself to play it cool.
“You actually showed up. I’m impressed,” I say, my voice tighter than I mean it to be. I try for casual, but I know I’m failing. Because all I can think of is him riding me in my fucking Mustang.
Chad’s grin widens, like he can feel the tension rolling off me. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world. You know how much I love a challenge.” His words are loaded, and there’s no missing the challenge behind them.
Lakelyn doesn’t say anything, but she’s watching me closely, her expression soft but calculating. It’s like they’ve come here with some unspoken agreement, like they’re silently testing me.
And I hate that it’s working.
“Lakelyn wanted to watch,” Chad adds, his eyes gleaming as he gives her a sideways glance. “Thought maybe she could learn a thing or two.”
It’s clear he isn’t talking about tennis. My fists clench at my sides, and I take a slow breath. “Is that right?” I ask, trying to keep my voice level, but it’s a losing battle.
Lakelyn meets my gaze, her lips curving into a small, knowing smile. “I thought it’d be fun,” she says sweetly, her voice soft, but there’s a hidden edge to it, like she knows exactly what’s happening between the three of us. Or maybe I’m just reading into things.
I take a step forward, my body practically vibrating with the need to do something—anything—to remind them both who’s in control here. But Chad’s there, smirking, waiting for me to crack. And Lakelyn... damn her, she looks at me like she knows what’srunning through my mind, like she’s already made peace with it. Like shewantsit.
“Fun,” I echo, forcing a laugh. “You know this isn’t a game, right?”
“Oh, I thought that’s what tennis was, a game.” Chad’s voice is teasing, but there’s something darker in his eyes. He steps closer, just enough to invade my space, to test me. “But maybe we like games.”
And that’s when I feel it—the shift in the air. The primal pull of my instincts threatening to snap, to take over. The need to claim them both surges so hard I almost lose it.Almost.
The crowd’s too close, the chatter of the club members buzzing at the edges of my hearing. I grit my teeth, trying to keep the growl that’s rumbling in my chest at bay, but Chad’s taunting grin and Lakelyn’s steady gaze make it impossible.
I can feel myself unraveling, every second pushing me closer to the edge.
“You’re pushing your luck, Chad,” I warn, my voice low, barely controlled. “This isn’t the time or the place.”
Chad doesn’t back down. In fact, he steps even closer, the barest smile playing on his lips. “You sure about that, Dean?” His voice is a whisper now, low enough that only I can hear. “Because it looks like you’re about to make ittheplace. Bend me over, teach me another kind of lesson.”
That’s it. The last shred of my control snaps, and I move before I even think. I grab Chad by the front of his shirt, yanking him toward me, my grip tight, teeth bared. My pulse is thundering in my ears, the crowd fading into the background as all I can focus on is the scent of him, the challenge in his eyes, and Lakelyn standing right there, watching every second of it, her sweet perfume rising up to mix with his.
For a brief second, Chad’s smile falters, his eyes widening just a fraction, and I know he can feel how close I am tosnapping. But then he recovers, lips twitching upward again. “Careful, Dean,” he murmurs, his voice breathless but teasing. “Don’t want the whole club watching you lose control, do you?”
I glance around, the reality of the situation crashing back in. There are still eyes on us, curious glances from the sidelines. My jaw clenches, and I force myself to loosen my grip, stepping back, even though every part of me is screaming to take this further. To do exactly what he suggested.
Chad smooths out his shirt like nothing happened, but the way his eyes are gleaming tells me he got exactly what he wanted.
